How do I use the THREDDS data server (TDS) to download a subset of a dataset that is too large to store locally?

From the TDS site, navigate to the dataset of interest and click on the .ncml file.

Use the “NetcdfSubset” service that can be found in the THREDDS Data Server “Access” list.

Click on the variable of interest.
If you want to do horizontal subsetting, click on “Disable horizontal subsetting” to allow it.
Set the Lat/lon subset Bounding Box.
Click Submit.

The service will return an NCSS Request URL that can be cut and paste to be used in a utility such as wget to download the file. (Note, you may need to put quotes around the URL to get wget to read it correctly.)

For additional information, see “What does the TDS NetcdfSubset message “NCSS response too large or Request too big mean?”